Auxiliary timing device



n- 1930. I c. s. PINKERTON 1,743,233

AUXILIARY TIMING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1927 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY 5 cxmmxwmni- BY Patented Jan. 14, 1930. l A

UNITED, S TES PATENT. OFFICE oLAEENcE s. rrnxnnron, or nILwAuKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE As- I SIGNMENTS, 'ro oUzrL n-HAmuEn, me, A' CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AUxIL'I BY TIMING nEvIcE Application filed February 5, 1927. Serial No. 166,146.

This invention relates to improvement in auxiliary timing devices, and the invention more particularly relates to the provision of such a'device having an extremely wide range of adjustability.

In many types of cooperating 'control instrumentalities it is necesary to provide a time lag in the response of one element with respect to that of another element, and in some instances the required .time element is so great as to render iiie use of reduction gearing or the like impracticable. Moreover, it is desirable to provide-such devices with means for readily and accurately adjusting the time of response of the respective elements through a wide range, andan object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means for accomplishment of the aforementioned desirable results. a

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an enib odiment of my invention and I have shown one mode of application thereof but it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible of other applications, and that the details of construction and operation thereof may be modified without departing from the spirit andscope of the appended claims. .1 Y

, In the drawing, Figure is a schematic and diagramamtic view of remote pressure control-means for a alve, said means having my auxiliary timing device applied thereto to '1 modify the operative characteristics thereof;

' and Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, detail .top

provided with a slot 17 arranged radially with respect to the axis of drum ll and shaft 10. A bolt or rod 18 is slidable in slot 17 to provide for concentric positioning or any desired degree of eccentric positioning of Y said bolt with reference to the axis of said drum. Head 19 of bolt 18 and a sleeve 20 are adapted for clamping engagement with opposite surfaces of bracket 15, said sleeve being forced into clamping position by a thumb nut 21 on the threaded shank of bolt 18. If desired a washer 22 may be interposed between nut 21 and sleeve 20. Sleeve 20 also serves as a pivot bearing for a pawl or dog 23, said pawl being biased by means .of spring 24 into engagement with a toothed wheel or ratchet 25.-

Wheel 25 is fixed to a shaft 26, said shaft I being in turn supported in the upstanding arms 27 and 28 of a U-shaped bracket 29 secured to a suitable base member 30 by means of screws'31. Also secured to shaft 26 and rotatable with wheel 25 is a'cylindrical member 32 having a plurality of equally spaced tapped openings 33, whereby one or more 'studs or pins 34, having threaded shanks 35 may be removably secured to said member 32. A pair of cooperating spring contact lingers 36 and 37 are provided, and contact finger 36- is normally biased out of engagcme at with contact finger 37, as indicated by dotted lines in Fi 3, and upon a given degree of rotation oficy inder 32 a pin 34"is adapted to engage a projection on the endofcontact finger 36 to' effect engagement of the latter with contact finger 37, as will be obvious.

Contacts'36 and 37 are secured to the under plan and side elevational views of certain side of an insulating block 38, as by means of control elements including my 'auxiliarytim- 111g device. A 1

As shown in the drawlng the device comprises essentially continuously rotatable .power driven shaft 10 having" a drum 11 of insulating material, such as wood, secured thereto. Sa1d drum carrles a conductive "strip or segment 12 which is adapted to bridge a pair of contact fingers 13 and 14 once I 'during each revolution of the drum. A

bracket 15 is rigidly-secured to drum 11, as by means of screws 16, and said bracket is bolts 39 and 40, respectively; suitable nuts 41 49 forming terminal binding posts therefon' As will be apparent the block 38 overhangs blocks 42 and 43 to provide clearance for contacts 36 and 37.

If desired, a suitable cover or housing 50 may be provided for the parts thus far described.

Assuming operation of shaft 10 at a substantially constant speed, and further assuming connection of contacts 13-14 and 3637 in amannerto require joint closure thereof 1 to complete the circuit, it is obvious that a very wide range of adjustment of the periods between joint closure of said contacts is provided. Thus, with contacts 36-37 held in closed position as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, bolt 18 of pawl23 may be adjusted to a position concentric with the axis of drum 11, thus rendering said pawl inoperative to move cylinder 32 out of the position illustrated. With this arrangement completion of the circuit will depend solely upon the time required to effect one revolution of drum 11, which time in practice may be about fifteen seconds.

By securing a single stud to cylinder 32 and by adjusting pawl 23 to effect movement of wheel 25 one notch upon each operation of said pawl, and assuming employment of a wheel 25 having sixty teeth, the time required for effecting completion of the circuit will be increased sixty fold over that aforementioned, or fifteen minutes.

Also obviously pawl 23 may be rendered I inoperative in the foregoing manner with cylinder 32 so positioned as to permit opening of contacts 36-37, thus providing for continuous interruption of the circuit notwithstanding intermittent closure' of contacts 1314. j

The timing intervals may therefore be varied within the wide range indicated by varying the number and arrangement of studs 34 on cylinder 32, and by adjusting pawl 23 to provide for movement of cylinder 32 through a different number of peripheral spaces as measured by the ratchet teeth on wheel 25.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art the timing means described is susceptible of wide application as auxiliary control meansfor circuit makers and breakers which include a member operable at a substantially constant rate or speed. For example, in Fig. 1 I have illustrated my invention as applied to the control of a remote pressure regulat ing valve in a fluid distributing pipe line or system. Obviously, however, the control may be applied to a primary pressure producing to engage stationarycontacts 54 or 55 under given pressure conditions as hereinafter described. A small pipe 56 leading from container 58.

The other control elements now to be described are preferably located at a point adj acent to the pressure regulating valve or district governor 59, which latter may be as much as ten miles, or more away from "bell 51 and its associated contacts. Thus I have shown a ratcheting device of'well known form, said engage and effect movement of wheel 68 in one direction or the other.

Secured to androtatable with wheel 68 is a shaft 69 carrying a spool or drum 70 for winding or unwinding a cord or cable 71, said cable being connected at one end to said drum,

and being connected at its other end through i the medium of a tension spring 72, to a lever 73 pivotally supported at 74 and pivotally" connected at 75 to the operating lever of valve 59. The degree of opening of valve 59 may be manually preset or adjusted by means of an adjustable counterweight 76. Shaft 10 of the auxiliary timing device is adapted to be driven by motor 60 through the aforementioned gearing 63, the details of said timing device having been heretofore described in connection with Figs. 2 and 3.

Thus with valve 59 adjusted to' provide for a given rate of flow of fluid from-main 77 through conduit 57, such adjustment will be maintained pending variation in the demand for fluid from said conduit. However, upon an increase in the fluid demand there will-be a resultant decrease in the pressure of'the fluid in conduit 57 which will cause lowering of the bell or float 51. After a given degree of lowering of said bell, contactor 53 isbrought into engagement with contact 54, thereby'tending to complete the energizing circuit of ratchet solenoid winding 67. As aforeindicated' said circuit will be completed immediately upon concurrent closure of contacts 36-37 and bridging of contacts '1314.

Said circuit may\-be traced from line L to contactor 53 and contact 54, by conductor 78 through solenoid winding 67, conductors 79 and 80, contact 13, segment-12 and contact 14, conductor 81, contacts 36 and 37 to line L Pawl 65 is thus brought into engagement with ratchet wheel 68 to effect a predetermined degree of rotation of the latter in a counterclockwise direction, which in turn effects a given degree of unwinding of cable 1 from drum 70 with consequent en- After one operation of ratchet wheel 68 by pawl 65 the energizing circuit of winding 67 is interrupted through movement of segment 12 out of engagement with contacts 13 and 14 and also through movement of the last mentioned stud 34 out of engagement with contact 36. As is well known if the.

pressure responsive device 51 is'located about ten miles away from valve 59 it will require about one and one-fourth minutes for the pressure effect of the valve adjustment to traverse said distance. Accordingly the timing elements aforedescribed will be adjusted to provide against re-completion of the energizing circuit of winding 67 during such period.

If the aforementioned automatic adjustment of valve 59 has been suflicient to restore the predetermined pressure in conduit 57 prior to the next period of coincident reclosure of contacts 36-37 and 13-14, bell 51 will have been returned to. normal position with consequent movement of con-- Y tactor 53 out of engagement with contact 54:,

so that the energizing circuit of winding 67 cannot be completed. on the other hand if bell 51 remains in a position to efiect continued engagement ofcontactor 53 with contact 54 such coincident reclosure of contacts 3637 and 13-14= will again complete the energizin circuit of winding 67 with consequent :turther automatic adjustment of valve 59. Such operation will be continued until the desired predetermined pressure has been restored in conduit 57, aswill be obvious. Y

Similarly if the demand for fluid from conduit 57 is decreased the pressure therein will be increased to effect lifting of bell 51 from normal position with consequent engagement of contactor 53 and contact whereas under these conditions upon simultaneous closure of contacts 3637 and 13-14 an energizing circuit for solenoid winding 66 is completed. Said circuit may be traced from line L to contactor 53 and contact 55, conductor 82 through said winding, conductors 83 and 80 to contact 13, segment 12 and contact 14,

conductor 81 to contact 36 and contact 37 V to line L Pawl 64 is thus brought into engagement with ratchet wheel 68.to effect a given degree of movement thereof in a clock- Wise direction with consequent winding of cable 71 upon spool -.tb partially reclose valve 59. Said operation is repeated after a given time interval depending upon the v adjustment of pawl 23 and the angular position of the next succeeding stud 34, pro-1 vided the contactor 53 has not been disengaged from contact 55 due to normal'positioning of bell 51 as aforedescribed.

While I have shown contactor 53 as adaptaccurately varying the timing intervals according to the particular conditions to be met with in a given installation, whereas obviously if desired suitably-calibrated indicia may be provided on bracket 15 and on cylinder 32 to facilitate the adjustments aforementioned.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be understood that the driving connection between wheel 68 and spool 70 preferably includes suitable worm gearing, whereby said spool is held in its respective adjusted positions against the-bias of spring 72 and counterweight 76.

Moreover, it will be noted that the operation of segment 12 with respect to contacts 13.14 provides for a relativelv Quick make and break of the control circuit under all conditions,'thereby relieving all of the contact elements from the deleterious eflects of arcing. i What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an auxiliary timing device, in combination, a power operated drum and contacts to be intermittently closed thereby, contacts included in circuit in series with said first mentioned contacts, and means for eiiecting intermittent closure of said second mentioned contacts, said means comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism having a driving connection with said drum and a rotating element driven by said mechanism.

2. In an auxiliary timing device, in combination, circuit controlling means including a power operated contactor tending to com plete an electric circuit at predetermined intervals, means for rendering said contactor inefiective for completing the circuit pending closure of a pair of contacts connectedin circuit in series therewith, and means for eifecting closure of said contacts at predetermined tially constant speed and tending to complete I an electric circuit at predetermined intervals, a pair of normally open contacts included in circuit in series with said contactor', means -for rendering said contactor inelfective for completing the circuit pending closure of said I contactor and said contacts jointly, said means comprising a rotatable member having a plu- .rality'of independently removable studs projecting therefrom to intermittently engage J certain of said contacts for effecting closure thereof, pawl and ratchet mechanism for effecting rotation of said member, and an adjustable driving connection between said contactor and said pawl. A

4. In a timing device, in combination with a standard type of power operated ratcheting mechanism and electroresponsive means adapted when energized to render said mechav gonism effective, of means comprising a contact drum driven in synchronism with said ratcheting mechanism and tending to effect energization of said electroresponsive means at predetermined intervals, means comprising a pair of normally open contacts connected in series with the contacts of said drum toren'der the latter inefiective pending closure of the former, a member rotatable in proximity to certain of said normally open contacts, one or more studs carried by said member to. intermittently engage and close said contacts, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for efiecting rotation of said member, and an adjustable driving connection between said drum and said pawl and ratchet mechanism. 5. In a timing device, the combination with a power operated ratcheting mechanism and a plurality of electroresponsive devices adapted when energized individually to ef-.

fect operation of said mechanism in opposite directions respectively, of an automatically operable switch having a neutral position and tending when moved in opposite directions from said position to complete an energizing circuit for one of said electroresponsive devices, a contact drum driven in synchronism with said ratcheting mechanism and tending to intermittently complete and interrupt said circuit, a pair of normally open auxiliary 0 contacts included in series in said circuit and 'meansfor intermittently closing and opening said contacts, said means comprising'a member rotatable in proximity to cert ain of said contacts, a plurality of studsc'arried by said.

member and adapted to engage said contacts, and an adjustable driving connection between said contact drum and said member.

; 6. In a timing device, the combination with a power operated ratcheting mechanism and a? plurality of electroresponsive devices adapted when energized individually to effect operation of said mechanism in opposite 1 directions respectively, of a pressure operated switch having a neutral position and tending when moved in opposite directions from said position to complete an energizing .circuit for one of said electroresponsive devices, a contact drum driven in synchronism with said ratcheting mechanism and tending to intermittently complete and interrupt said circuit, a pair of normally open-auxiliary contacts included in series in said circuit and means for intermittently closing and opening said contacts, said-means comprising a member rotatable in proximity to certain of said contacts, a plurality of spaced studs carried by said member, means for varying the numpressure at a given point in the supply line,:

a pressure regulating valve located'in said line-at a distance from said contactor, electroresponsive means 7 located adjacent to said valve for ,efiecting operation of the latter, means tending to complete the energizing circuit of said electroresponsive means upon operation of said contactor, a pair of normally open contacts requiring closure thereof to complete said circuit, power operated means for effecting closure and opening of said contacts at predetermined intervals, and adjusting means associated with said last mentioned means for varying the time of closure and opening of said contacts.

8. In a timing device for remote pressure control systems, in combination, a pressure regulating valve, automatically operable means tending to efi'ect adjustment of said valve in steps, a pressure responsive device located at'a distance from said valve and said adjusting means for controlling the latter, and means for timing the operation of said adjusting means inaccordance with the distance between said valve and said pressure responsive device, whereby the latter is subjected to the pressure effect of a given adjustment of the former prior to a repeated operation of said adjusting means. 7

9. In a timing device for remote pressure control systems, in combination, a pressure regulating valve, automatically operable means-tending to effect adjustmentof said v tion of said adjusting means, said timing means comprising a plurality of sets of contactsincluded in series in an electric circuit and adjustable means for Varying the time of closure of said contacts jointly.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CLARENCE S. PINKERTON. 

